One Room Challenge Fall 2019 - Week 5 - Ready Or Not!

The One Room Challenge is no doubt an exciting and exhilarating time, but it is definitely nerve-racking as well. It is a six week challenge, but it really boils down to five weeks, as we must leave time for professional photography and editing.

As I am sitting here typing this, I have a house full of workers getting the last minute things done.

In the meantime I am finding refuge in my recently completed master bathroom.

If you've been following the progress of my luxe laundry room makeover, you will already know that we are talking about a tiny 9x6 space! I mean, how bad could it be, right? You have no idea!

So, I do admit that I might be going a bit extra with this laundry room - it certainly will not be your everyday utilitarian space, and hopefully on reveal day you will see just the amount of work that we managed to complete in just 5 weeks. As a person who hates doing laundry, it was my way to motivate myself to even go in there. Heck, my 17 year old son Josh was getting ready to do laundry this evening. That literally never happens. I did tell him no using it till it's photographed. Haha

Ready or not, tomorrow is professional photography day. I had my ever-talented photographer Colleen Scott booked from the moment I was asked to participate as a featured designer, and actually had to reschedule her because I thought it would be quick and easy and I'd be done by now! Nope! Totally underestimated how much work was involved

If you are new to the blog, go check on the progress of this makeover. Week 1, week 2 , week 3 and week 4 will amaze you. Here is a glimpse at where it started. Pretty, right?!

Head to the One Room Challenge website to learn all about it and its founder Linda Weinstein, and to see some fabulous spaces. You could easily spend a whole day looking at some amazing reveals from past seasons

This past week had to be the most challenging week out of all the 7 times I have done the ORC. A lot of little issues that were more annoying than anything else. I was off to High Point Furniture Market for a few days so that didn't really help

Thankfully, we pushed through and the luxe laundry room is pretty much ready for its close up tomorrow.

Painting was completed, and days later I discovered that I didn't tell my painter to paint the ceiling in a flat finish. The beautiful Behr Fresh Popcorn looked great in satin on the cabinetry, but was a bit too shiny for the textured ceiling. He was so great to return to fix that for me.

I also learned that the caning material does not like to get wet with paint. It started to warp. It's straightened out for the most part, but some rippling is still noticeable to me. Hoping it will be better before photos

The marble countertop also went in this week, and I kinda wished that I was around when it was being fabricated. I wished they had continued the pattern from one slab to another, but it still looks great.

These are some of the pitfalls when you are working on a very tight timeline

I just love the Streamline marble mosaic on the floor from The Tile Shop. Although it was recommended for walls and not floors because of the gold banding, I still had to have it. I knew that the laundry room will not be a high traffic area, and I actually like a bit of patina over time, so it was great for my application.

You can also see my gorgeous ceiling and wall fixtures from Hudson Valley in this shot

I came home one day this week to a couple of guys placing the washer and dryer in place before the wallpaper was installed. Fortunately I showed up when I did because that is one heavy piece of appliance. My poor wallpaper guy Tom had to work around the washing machine in the middle of the room

Here's a tiny peek of the gorgeous Cranes wallpaper from Milton and King

And this sexy little number from Legrand adorne. I just love how sleek these wall plates and switches are. Especially in the graphite. Look how amazing it is against the wallpaper

The gorgeous Emtek mortise hardware for the pocket door was installed today, as well as the cabinet hardware that was installed a few days ago by Keith from Americas Fine Art Installers. They are very clean and simple but fabulous with the wallpaper

I am really excited about the artwork for the room. My dear friend and Designer Shelly Gerritsma from Canter Lane Interiors created something special for me, and I cannot wait to share it with you all. Go check out Shelly's website. Not only is she a fabulous designer, she is an amazing artist and illustrator. Her online shop includes bespoke wallpapers and fabrics that you will love.

After my crazy week, I am seriously worried about my fellow featured designers, but I am sure they are doing great. That's one of the super powers we designers possess; we are great under pressure.

Check out what they are up to